(Featured Image: Mac Morgan – Images not to be reused unless granted permission)
Ynysddu Welfare boss Ben Murphy says playing a side of Cefn Druids calibre will be an ‘unbelievable’ experience.
The Gwent County League side are the lowest ranked team in the competition and will play a side who were playing in Europe just a few months ago.
Murphy’s side will welcome Huw Griffith’s men to the Pontllanfraith 3G as they aim for a fourth cup scalp against higher league opposition.
“To be playing a side of this Calibre will be unbelievable.
“When the draw is made you pray for a big tie and to face the oldest club in wales on home soil is amazing.
“My players will be walking out against players who played Europa league football this summer, it feels a little surreal but for 90 minutes we have to forget all that.
“We both enter the game as a side in the Welsh Cup Round Three irrespective of what competition we’ve played in.”
After qualifying for the Europa League and suffering a narrow defeat to Lithuanian side FK Trakai, Druids haven’t been at their best this season.
They currently find themselves in the bottom half of the table, nine points off a top-six place with just six games left.
Despite their slow start to the season, opposition boss Ben Murphy says they should feel confident going into this game.
“Their league form hasn’t been what they would have expected but they will be very confident coming into this game.
“They would have been delighted with the draw and I’m sure their supporters will be expecting a safe passage through to the next round but we will be looking to capitalise on any loss of confidence from their players.
“It’s a monumental challenge for us but we will look to gain any little advantage we can.”
It’s been a rainswept week this week in South Wales, but with a full fixture list in the Gwent County League, Ynysddu will be hoping the whole of the Gwent Area can come out to support the Caerphilly side in the Welsh Cup.
The Caerphilly based club has managed to accumulate a number of supporters after their FAW Youth Cup run, receiving mainstream media attention after putting a side together.
“We are really hopeful of a big crowd but I think that depends on the weather this week.
“The support has been fantastic so far but the majority of support has come from further afield and I’m sure that will grow throughout the week.”
Having trained on Monday evening, there was a clear instruction from the Ynysddu boss to his players.
It was to embrace the game, given the gulf in class between the two sides.
Cefn Druids are a Welsh Premier League team, whilst Ynysddu are relative newcomers to the fifth tier of Welsh football, following their promotion last season.
There will be no different approach from Ynysddu this week, despite playing a team they aren’t used to coming up against.
“I said to the players it’s important you take the magnitude of the game in.
“As a player, I didn’t appreciate it enough and the moment passes by quickly so I’ll ensure the players’ saviour every minute.
“We will do nothing at all different than any other week.
“I’m a firm believer In preparing for each game as best you possibly can whether that be a Gwent county league game or a Welsh cup game against Welsh Premier League opposition.
“With Druids being a Welsh premier league side it’s far easier to analyse them and try to see areas you may be able to target so we have watched as much as we possibly can. Analyse is one thing, executing it is a different story.”
Ynysddu have created a memorable cup run having beaten Croesyceiliog, Monmouth Town and Taffs Well.
Croesyceiliog hadn’t lost a game until Ynysddu beat them at Woodland Road. Whilst four-time Welsh Football League Cup winners Taffs Well.
Cup runs run in the memories of players when they wind down on their careers.
“We have loved every minute of it. We toppled three very good sides but not through luck.
“I’m proud that we’ve stuck to our way of playing and kept the ball on the floor, playing attractive football.
“It can be easy to change your style against good sides but I believe in the players’ abilities to play “our” way and we will do the same again Saturday.”
(Featured Image: Macauley Morgan – Images not to be reused unless granted permission)
Leave a Reply